Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has raided and imposed penalties on 70 shop owners under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for selling tobacco products near educational institutes in the Capital.

According to police,  31 teams were formed and  raids were conducted on the tobacco vendors. “A total of 70 vendors were found violating the rules under COTPA Act. Hence, 70 challans were issued against them,” police said.  These  31 areas were identified where vendors were found selling tobacco products near educational institutes in violation of norms.

"According to data provided by the Department of Education, a local inquiry was conducted. Later, we identified a total 31 areas all over Delhi, where pan khokha, bidi, gutka vendors were found indulging in sale of tobacco products in the 100 metres parameter of educational institutes," Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said.

According to police, the raids were conducted on Wednesday under “Operation Kavach 4.0” based on Union home affairs and the lieutenant governor’s directives. He added they focused on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of tobacco products near educational institutes.

“Anti-Narcotics Taskforce took action against these shops in the 100-metre vicinity of the schools as per the education department’s data. Joint action was planned simultaneously all over Delhi along with teams from the NCB to ensure action with an element of surprise. The purpose was to check not only the contraband substance being sold by the shops to school-going children but also taking stringent action against the violators for closure of such shops,” Delhi police said in a press release.

Police said 31 areas were identified across Delhi, where 70 vendors were found selling tobacco products within the 100-meter radius of the schools. “This was a unique operation conducted all over Delhi in a single day to give a strong message to such illegal vendors active near educational institutes.”

Yadav said undercover officers, surveillance, canine support, and intelligence gathering were involved in the joint operation.